Senate poised to back Internet sales tax — The Senate is expected to pass legislation this week that would empower states to tax online purchases. — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has filed to end debate on the bill, which is called the “Marketplace Fairness Act.”

Google Now for Google's Homepage in Testing — It looks like Google Now won't be limited to Android, iOS and Chrome, it will also be added to Google's homepage. Some code from a page that's tested by Google offers more information about this feature. … That's how Google introduces the new feature.

Comedy Central to Host Comedy Festival on Twitter — Next week, Comedy Central will host a five-day comedy festival that includes a lineup of legends like Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner alongside popular young comics like Amy Schumer and the director Paul Feig. — But there will be no smoky comedy clubs.

The rise and fall of AMD: How an underdog stuck it to Intel — In part one of this two-part series, we look at the evolution of AMD from a second-source supplier for companies using Intel processors towards CEO Hector Ruiz's ideal of a “premium” chipmaker that could sell to the likes of Dell and Intel.

Google boss defends UK tax record to BBC — Google's executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, has defended his company paying just £6m in UK corporation tax. — His comments came after a committee of MPs last year denounced multinationals - including Google - who pay little tax on their UK earnings, as “immoral”.

Japanese police ask ISPs to start blocking Tor … The authorities in Japan are so worried about their inability to tackle cybercrime that they are asking ISPs there to block the use of Tor. — According to The Mainichi, the National Police Agency (NPA, a bit like the Japanese FBI) …